Watch Railroaded! For Free

Sadly Over-hyped

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Railroaded! Is directed by Anthony Mann and written by Gertrude Walker and John C. Higgins. It stars John Ireland, Sheila Ryan, Hugh Beaumont and Jane Randolph. Music is by Alvin Levin and cinematography by Guy Roe.When an innocent young owner of a company van is framed for a robbery and killing of a cop, his sister takes up the case to prove his innocence. Forming an uneasy alliance with the detective in charge of the case, it is touch and go as to if innocence can be proved since the evidence is stacked against the youngster. But someone is responsible, and that someone is moving close to the action…A difficult film to recommend with confidence to those interested in noir/crime cinema, Anthony Mann's Railroaded has some good moments but unfolds merely as a solid noirish frame-up picture. Narrative holds no surprises and goes exactly where you wish it wouldn't. The tiny budget shows and the acting away from Ireland is pretty average at best, while important points of worth in the plotting drop in only to not be expanded upon thereafter; including the poor innocent youngster sitting in jail!However, it is that portrayal of villain Duke Martin by John Ireland that more than makes it worth sitting through. This is a villain who is not particularly bright in his decision making, but he has some odd kinks (perfuming his bullets, caressing his pistol) and he thinks of nothing to handing out violence to women. Mann and Roe utilise his menace with some good shadow play and lighted close ups. Elsewhere there's a hugely enjoyable "girl scrap" scene between Ryan and Randolph, made more dangerous by the presence of Duke in the shadows. Duke's setting-up of a wino stooge carries with it the requisite nastiness and his kills pack a punch for dramatic impact. The finale, as expected as it is, is well constructed by Mann and at least closes the film down with double bang instead of a whimper.With Desperate and Railroaded released in 1947, Anthony Mann was still crossing over and learning about his film noir capabilities. It would be T-Men made in the same year, with his pairing with ace cinematographer John Alton, where Mann found his mojo and began a coupling that would produce a run of film noir classics. Railroaded is passable, but best viewed as a time waster or appetiser to better pleasures. 6/10

"Railroaded!" is hyped as film noir but it is not...classically. The look is dark and the mood is somewhat somber, but, the principal characters are aloof. Classic film noir involves principal characters with whom we empathize at least a little (Walter Neff, Dix Handley)but who either die or are fully demoralized in the end (whom the French called the 'damned man'). The only person we give a hoot about is poor Steve, the accused. Steve (Ed Kelly) is a small role not really involved in the story despite being the object in it.Maltin rates "Railroaded!" with 3 stars. That's one star too many. Ireland and Sheila Ryan give good performances but standard all the way. The best line is by Steve's mother about her cake ("Who could eat a cake with a gun in it?").

A nice moment between John Ireland and Wilma, his boss' mistress. She teases him with a nickname, and he answers "The name is Duke." She jokes "You petrify me!" A quip that is a nod to Bogey's Duke Mantee character in "Petrified Forest," but Ireland's Duke is relatively without Mantee's charm, he is definitely not go to fall in love with the leading lady, or do her any favors. He is only looking out for his own hide. And brutally so, even while perfuming his ammunition.Keeping his lascivious eye on Ryan's sister while pretending to help her with her brother's case, he is always a leering physical threat to her. Fine noir ingredients include dark streets and dangerous shadows. Much camera movement and interesting closeups keep up the pace. Watch Turner Classic for future airings.

Anthony Mann directed some of the very best noirs of the 1940s and early 1950s.This one is brutal, hard-hitting, and unrelenting till its Hollywood ended. (The ending may have been tacked on. I don't know. But it works organically with the whole, unlike many others.)The problem for me with some of his movies, this one included, is that they are so dark they're almost impossible to see at times. Yes, it's atmospheric. But it's also frustrating.The literal noir in some -- not all -- of his movies reminds me of the staging of Wagner at the Metropolitan Opera. Yes, it's brooding and intense. But it's also really hard to see.